Milton police urge residents to be aware of scams

Monday

Sep 18, 2017 at 12:45 AMSep 18, 2017 at 12:50 AM

Earlier this month, police said, two Milton residents received U.S. Postal Service priority mail packages containing letters claiming they had won “secret shopper” experiences. Both people recognized the checks were part of a scam intended to defraud them.

By Jessica TrufantThe Patriot Ledger

Police are encouraging residents to call them before transferring money to questionable people or companies after officers learned of several scams targeting local residents.

Earlier this month, police said, two Milton residents received U.S. Postal Service priority mail packages containing letters claiming they had won “secret shopper” experiences with Kroger, a chain of supermarkets and department stores. Each package contained a check for $2,140.92.

The residents were instructed to use this money for the shopping trip. However, they were also told that first they had to deposit $870 into two designated accounts.

Both people recognized the checks were part of a scam intended to defraud them out of $870.

Police also receive a report of a telephone scam in which the resident was told to buy gift cards and provide the card information to the caller to receive the reward. The phone numbers the calls came from were 876-561-0781 and 876-891-8552, police said.

Milton police encourage residents to call them before transferring any money over the phone or the internet, or through Western Union, unless they are certain the person or corporation receiving the money is legitimate.